CAT or CT
Computerized axial tomography scans are a series of x-rays of the skull taken from many different directions. CAT scans generate cross-sections of the brain that show its structure in detail.
Catscan © istockphoto.com.
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MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce highly detailed 2- or 3-D images of internal organs.
MRI © istockphoto.com
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PET
Positron emission tomography was the first technique to capture brain activity. Scans measure emissions from radioactive chemicals injected into the bloodstream, producing 2- or 3-D images that reflect the amount of activity in various brain regions.
Petscan © AMNH
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fMRI
Functional magnetic resonance imaging is a special type of MRI that images changes in blood flow to specific areas of the brain as the subject performs a specific task. FMRI scans provide both an anatomical and a functional view of the brain.
fMRI © Prof. Michael Chee/Cognitive Neuroscience Lab/Duke-NUS Graduate
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fMRI © Van Wedeen
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The brain's outer layer, the cortex, is crucial for thinking - but it does not work alone. This DSI scan reveals the countless connections between the cortex and subcortical regions. While many different regions are involved in thinking, the connections between these regions are equally important.
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fMRI © Van Wedeen
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In this DSI scan, looping bundles of fibers connect the regions of the limbic system, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and other areas. These brain parts are referred to as a single "system" because of the communication pathways that link them together.
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